Looking across the bay in Kona, Hawaii
Research Interests
Broadly, I am interested in the global biogeochemical cycling of elements and how changes in one system impact
another. More specifically, the majority of my research has focused on how changes in ocean chemistry can affect the plankton community. Although plankton are tiny, they form the base of the marine food chain and therefore changes at this level have the potential to impact the whole marine ecosystem.
another. More specifically, the majority of my research has focused on how changes in ocean chemistry can affect the plankton community. Although plankton are tiny, they form the base of the marine food chain and therefore changes at this level have the potential to impact the whole marine ecosystem.
In March 2019, I gave a talk about my research at the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, in Austin Texas. The talk was recorded - watch here!
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In 2018, I gave a NOAA SOARCE Webinar talking about my research and how it can be used in outreach - give it a watch and let me know what you think! |
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Biotic responses to ocean acidification
Human activities, such as manufacturing and transportation, are adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere at unprecedented rates (for more information on climate change check out NASA's fantastic website). The impacts of climate change extend beyond the atmosphere into the ocean. Carbon dioxide dissolves into the ocean, decreasing the pH and the concentration of carbonate ions in seawater, a process know as ocean acidification. This makes it energetically more costly for calcareous organisms to build their shells.
My research focuses on how organisms, specifically calcareous plankton, are impacted by these changes in the modern ocean, under predicted future oceanic conditions, and in the oceans in the past.
My research focuses on how organisms, specifically calcareous plankton, are impacted by these changes in the modern ocean, under predicted future oceanic conditions, and in the oceans in the past.